Video Message from the Huaorani of Yasuni -- "Something Must Remain"Ome Yasuni is a grassroots initiative by Huaorani communities who live deep in the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador, in the area now known as Yasuni National Park and Biosphere Reserve. Yasuni is world-renowned for carbon rich forests and extraordinary biological diversity, but is threatened by oil exploitation and colonization. The Huaorani (also spelled "Waorani" and "Waodoni") are legendary, even among other indigenous peoples in Ecuador's Amazon region, for their knowledge about the "giving" rain forest and its plant and animal life. They are also renowned for their warriors, and long spears and blowguns. The Huaorani have defended Yasuni since before written history. Before "contact" (with the outside world) and the arrival of "the civilization" and first oil company Texaco (now part of Chevron) around 1970, the Yasuni Huaorani defended their territory with hardwood spears. Now, the "contacted" Huaorani of Yasuni must find new ways to protect Ome, the forest that is their home and source of life. The Huaorani communities of Bameno, Bowanamo, and Wema have organized themselves to defend Yasuni and their culture and way of life -- and make real the promise of human rights for indigenous peoples in Yasuni, including the right of their "uncontacted" neighbors (Tagaeri, Taromenani, and Tademoede Huaorani families) to "live free" in isolation in their forest. They call themselves Ome Gompote Kiwigimoni Huaorani (We Defend Our Huaorani Territory), "Ome Yasuni." These video messages from Ahua, Kemperi and Penti were filmed by a visitor and posted on YouTube because the communities want be heard and respected by outsiders who seek to make decisions that affect them. Many people claim to speak for the Huaorani and Yasuni, and if you watch other videos about Yasuni, you will likely see Ahua and Kemperi and Penti, and other community members. But you will also likely hear the voice of someone else. We invite you to listen to these messages, and support Ome Yasuni. Something of this great territory must remain -- without oil companies, roads, colonizers, military and security forces, loggers, or bureaucrats.Please sign our petition to the President of Ecuador at www.change.org/omeyasuni